Flexible wheel for motor and other vehicles.



PATENTED OCT. 22 1907.

H. F. EIGIHOL$.4 I I FLEXEBLB WHEEL FOR MOTOR AND OTHER VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1905.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FRANCIS NICHOLS, OF ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

FLEXIBLE FOR Moron AND OTHER VEHICLES.

mfsemles.

Specification of Letters Patent,-

Patented as, '22,- 1907.

Application-filed April !.1906J Serial Np. 312,803,

To all whom. it may concern Be it knownihat- L HENRY FnANors NicnoLs, edge.

neer. a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland residing at Greniell street, Adelaide, State of South.

Australia. Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a. certain new and useful Improved Flexible Wheel for Motor and other Vehicles; of which' the following is 2i specification. The'object of this invention is to'provide a resilient. wheel for motors and other vehicles, which shall have the advantages ofthe pneumtitic tire withoutits dis-" ivise jointed together to form a flexible band (Jr chain. The inner rigid rim is constructed preferably of a, thinflf metal rim immediately surroundinga wooden rim.

The inner rim is connected to the hubbypokes iIr-th'e' v v l'outerflexible-rim entire comprising ainumberv-of blocks 4 or sectionssndenencircling'hand o f tlexihlem-aterial such usual way. Between-the'outer. flexible and the inner rigid rim are a number of-Ipla-te'springsset'tanrim D, forming'the-"inner rigid rim.

' and the outer rims.

corresponding in number gto the nll fll belf vli blocks,- plai es or sections. The springs aredet'echsblyiastened vat oneend to theinner'rimj'and towards the other end to the sections. Upon'gach side oithefinner rigid i im is a. detach-able flange or check 'plate projectingrfnpm the rim to slightly beyond tlie inner edge of'theouter rim. inclosing the springs and-serjihg'asa lateral sup-.-

port thereto and to the outer flexiblerim. The'springsand the oute r' flex'ible rim 'or the ocf cn py'the space be tween the ,flg gges and slide 'or fundulate therein In order thet my iriiientionmay be clearly under: stood .i will describe the same withreference tothe ac con'ipanying' drawings in-which Figure 1 is a side view of'rnyimproved wheelgwithone of thecheckms-renio'ved ttlldfillOWlflg portion of the rims in section. highs is n cross section'of por-t tiou of the rim. Fig.-'3 is-aperspective View of one of theouter rim sect s. Figs. 2 and B are drawn'to a; larger scale than Fig; 1F

Inthe drnwings A A area series of metal blocks or isections forming with an encircling band B of flexible. material such as rubber. the outer flexible rim or tire according to my invention. r f C is a metal band immediately surrounding a wooden E E are a series of springs arranged between the inner Each spring is attached-at one he outer flex-iblerim'or tire is constructed of a, num'- ring one end of -each'rspring being see'ur .end to the inner rim and towards the other end it is A attached to one. of the sections A oithe outer'rim; its

- unattached end however projectingtowsrds the adjacent spring, so that upon thespri'ng being much deflectedthe endiihping'esppon the si'djacent spring and so is supported at both ends, 1 The method of. attache: I

ment I prefer is shown in Fig; 2,-and consists of-aclarnping plate across the spring;boltedinvonelcsse to themetal-rim and/ in the other case ,to'the section;

F F are flange or'ehe ck plates securednp'on each side- .of-the rigidiri'rn. The fiangeon-ieach sideniay'be un v divided'but it is preferably made three parts for ,'con

venienc e of' r emoval and attachmentfln Y order to allow for deflection or relative movement while pre-- venting'the entrance oidii-t. to the spring chamber, the ends of the sections are the formshown in Fig,

3. The sides :at one" end are-extendedforward but: cranked or bent inwards, so that the extended-sides '0: thes'one sect-ion fi t'between the sidesof the adjecnt section.

-Having now fully described andaseertained my said v i inventional ld the manner inzwhicliit isto beperformed I declarethat twhat I claim i 1. In n, flexible whe fonh ot'oh aid hindrancesas.

I v Aisruhber 'an inner: ri id rim connepted'to' the-hub; by gentially and connect ng the two togethen the springs:

"so spgkes n. series of'plate springscorresp dingfin number;

to the sections of the outer rim andrset an ntiallyf-toth'" and the: other end-tree, thecentr check plates sec'ured to theinnei'rfm nnd overlappinga scribed-end for the purpose se'tforth outer rim) 2, .In.a wheel ofthexharaeter described, an outer rim Q comprising a number of blocks'orsections having inwardly: a-nd outwardly projectingsides; the inwardlyprojecitin sides at one endmeingr'extended and-Tc'ranked' onbent' inward so that'they fit.betwen lthefsidesof ,thendjacent' section;

t a v of s ections; an inner rinn andja'j'. rigs between} the" rims and-set tanlgentia lly' thereto, one end ofeach. spi lngf being secured to- -fthejiinnjer rimandfthejothergend free toimpinge upon the ,ft op oi the next succeeding-spring, the-central portionv of tirerin tnigs enedito the ddjircent section of the rinifa'flexlbleonter flin -"ands plurality of plate springs arranged between-the riihsithe springs each being secured .nt one end to the inner riim' and intermediate jot its ends .to the cuter rim,-th evfree' ends of the springs being adapted to impinge upon the adjacent spring.-'

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing ns niy invention 

